How to Keep From Losing Room Heat After the Fire Goes Out in the Fireplace

The warmth of the fireplace is often replaced by cold air after the embers have burned out.

A roaring fire in the fireplace keeps you warm during the colder winter months and provides a centerpiece for family gatherings. After the fire goes out, however, what remains is a cool breeze pulled in through small openings around the home. Losing room heat after the fire goes out minimizes the overall practical effect of the fire itself; there are a number of different strategies to retain the heat for as long as possible.

Glass Fireplace Doors

Closing the flue is a dangerous choice after the fire goes out; embers are still smoldering with harmful gases. But you can effectively close off the fireplace with glass doors attached to the front of the firebox opening. These doors direct the dying fire's gases up into the flue while creating a barrier to the indoor room itself. The heat within the room will remain trapped since it cannot be pulled up the flue with the remaining ember's gases.

Plastic Window Film

The frame connection between the windows and walls allows a lot of heat to escape after a fire goes out. Plastic window film kits allow you to cover a window and its surrounding frame with a transparent sheet and tape. You will still have a view of the outside while retaining the fire's residual warmth. These kits can be used on almost any window in the home. But these kits prevent the opening of the window, so they should be installed during the winter months only when the windows will not be opened.

Drafts through Doors

Doorways offer the same draft issues as a window, especially at the base of the door. Interior doors surrounding the warmed room should remain closed to retain the fire's warmth. Any drafts from the bottom of the doorway can be solved with a simple cloth bag; these bags resemble snakes filled with a weight, such as rice, that are pressed up against the bottom of the door. Any remaining fire warmth will stay within the room as long as the doors and draft points are closed or covered.

Window Drapes

Along with the plastic film, nighttime fire warmth can be retained with simple window drapes. If you choose a thick drape type, especially insulating versions, you will see a big change in the warmth retention of a room. Keeping the windows covered with large drapes at night will keep you comfortable in the immediate fireplace area.

About the Author

Writing professionally since 2010, Amy Rodriguez cultivates successful cacti, succulents, bulbs, carnivorous plants and orchids at home. With an electronics degree and more than 10 years of experience, she applies her love of gadgets to the gardening world as she continues her education through college classes and gardening activities.